Appearance

[Clyde Hollinger]

Eliot,

First of all, I respect anything that Jim Coleman, Sr. says. Secondly, I
already wear a shirt (trousers, even!), so if adding a tie will add thirty
grand to my bottom line, I'm in!  Um, will I have to raise my tuning rates?

My apparel rarely varies.  White short sleeve shirt with collar open and navy
blue slacks.  In very cool weather I add a sports jacket and it has to get
really cold before I wear anything heavier than that.  If I'm doing a job that
will work up a sweat, like installing a Dampp-Chaser system under a grand, or
rolling around on the floor for any other piano repair, I may take off my
shirt, but I still have a T-shirt under that -- always.

I think grooming is important, but once you're recognized by your clients as
the best in the land, they'll probably stick with you no matter what you wear.

Regards, Clyde

Eliot Lee wrote:

> Hello,
>
>     I was just told by a senior tuner here (Jim Coleman Sr.) that if I
> change my appearance by wearing a shirt and tie, instead of wearing casual
> dress, jeans and polo shirt, that I could increase my annual salary by
> $30,000.  He said there was a Yamaha study 20 years ago about this.
>
>     Have any of you noticed an increase in business by upgrading your
> grooming?
>
>     The problem is that here in Phoenix it is so hot, many homes are not
> properly cooled, I shutter to think how much I would suffer with the top
> button fastened wearing a tie, and to wear a suit coat over that would
> really be unbearable.
>
>     Do any of you take off your tie and open your shirt after making the
> first impression?
>
>     We small potatoes want to know.
>
> Eliot Lee